Figure 1.--This American boy from Amesbury, Massachusetts was photographed in a dress with elaborate puffed sleeves. The portrait is undated, but we guess was taken in the 1880s. He looks to be about 4 years old. Note the great toy pull train.

Another major stylistic element of the dress is the sleeves. We note all kinds of different sleeve treatment and styles which have changed extensively over time. Some sleeves were very simple, little different then shirt sleeves. Most were long sleeves, but we notice shortened lengths as well at a time that short sleeve shirts were not common at all. Some summer frocks did not have any sleeves at all. The shortened length sleeves varied from very short, cut at the upper arm. Other sleeves continued well below the elbow. Width also varried. at mid-19th century, wide sleeves were popular to accomodate blouse sleeves that blouced out at the lower arm. We all notice puff or baloon sleeves. Here the length varied. Often the balloning was just at the upper arm/shoulder. In other cases it extended extenivesly down the sleeve. Note the boy here with a dress that had elaborate baloon or puffed sleeves (figure 1). A problem with our assessment here is that we do not know a lot about dresses, so our assessment is largely a learning experience as we acquire information and images. We welcome readers more informed about dresses and styles to add their insights.

Simple Shirt-like Sleeves

Some sleeves were very simple, little different then shirt sleeves.

Length

Most dress sleeves were long sleeves. This is in part because wheen short sleeves became more common in the 20th century, boy no longer commonly wore dresses. We notice sije shortened lengths sleeves at a time that short sleeve shirts were not common at all. The shortened length sleeves varied from very short, cut at the upper arm. Other sleeves continued well below the elbow.

Sleeveless Frocks

Some summer frocks did not have any sleeves at all.

Balooning

Balooning o puff sleeves were a popular dress sleeve style. We also note this done with blouses. We first note this in the 1890s. Some time this was done just at the shoulder. Les commonly the wholr sleeve was balooned. We note Bert Cross in the 1900s with half sleeves that were balooned.

Width

The width of dress sleeves also varried widely. Some were very plain straight-cut sleeves. Others were voluminous and fancy. And of course there were many gradients between these two extreems. We note varying styles over time. At mid-19th century, wide sleeves were popular to accomodate blouse sleeves that blouced out at the lower arm. We all notice puff or baloon sleeves. Here the length varied. Often the balloning was just at the upper arm/shoulder. In other cases it extended extenivesly down the sleeve. Note the boy here with a dress that had elaborate baloon or puffed sleeves (figure 1).

Assessment Problem

A problem with our assessment here is that we do not know a lot about dresses. HBC focuses on boy's clothing and thus we just are not well informed about dresses. But until after the turn-of-the 20th century, younger boys commonly wore dresses. So the dress was an element of boys' wear which needs to be addressed by HBC. So our assessment is largely a learning experience as we acquire information and images. We welcome readers more informed about dresses and styles to add their insights.

Created: 5:00 PM 12/11/2006
Last updated: 2:11 AM 11/4/2011